How to make the case for test-driving analytics -- in your organization.

1. Demonstrating value: Starting with a pilot project offers
management a proof of concept with tangible benefits up front, before
significant time, capital and resources are invested.

2. Reducing up-front investment: There is no need to buy
enterprise software or hardware until you know that it works.

3. Leveraging resources: Since a pilot is narrow in scope
with defined boundaries, there is no need for a large team and broad
cross-functional involvement.

4. Offering manageability: A pilot does not require an
organization to have the highest level of enterprise data quality. Since the
pilot will likely leverage limited data sets, companies can start where they
are and enhance data quality as they add to the pilot.

6. Jump-starting problem solving: The pilot initiative can
uncover big problems quickly, which can give the organization a head start on
fixing them. If you fix problems in the target data set, you can establish a
method for fixing them at the enterprise level.

7. Mitigating risk: If things go wrong in the pilot, the
repercussions are limited because they are not felt at the enterprise level.
You can fix the problems more easily because they are not organizationwide.

8. Achieving buy-in: The pilot helps identify champions and
supporters. Since results are demonstrable and easily understood, executive
sponsorship can be secured for a larger analytics initiative.